Iron Age Roman settlement uncovered after rare sword find
The dig follows the discovery of two iron Roman cavalry swords, possibly displaying traces of their scabbards, during a metal detecting rally near Willersey two years ago.
Sue Clemmitt holds the finger bones from a separated human arm which had been found (Cotswold Archaeology/PA)
The swords, which were found by metal detectorist Glenn Manning, were later donated to the Corinium Museum in Cirencester.
Mr Manning said: 'Finding two swords in the same spot was amazing.
'The morning before the rally, I had a feeling I would find something special.
'This was only my second time metal detecting. I'm excited to find out more about them.'
Historic England then conducted geophysical surveys of the area where the swords were found, which revealed the possibility of extensive prehistoric, and Romano-British remains.
Excavations earlier this year found evidence of settlements spanning several centuries.
These include three or four Iron Age ring ditches, a substantial rectangular enclosure, and remains of Roman limestone buildings, which could be a winged villa.
More archaeological work is required, and Historic England could then recommend to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that the site be protected as a scheduled monument.
Peter Busby with the two swords (James Harris/PA)
It is believed the long swords or 'spatha' were used by the Romans on horseback from early in the second century AD through to the third century AD.
They are contemporary with the villa, but it is not known how they came to be there.
Ian Barnes, senior archaeologist at Historic England, said: 'This excavation provides valuable insights into the nature of settlement patterns from the Early Iron Age through to the Roman period in Gloucestershire.
'This new evidence will help us to understand more about what happened around the period of the Roman Conquest, which must have been a tumultuous time.'
Peter Busby, from Cotswold Archaeology, said: 'I am very proud of how much our team of volunteers, professional archaeologists, and metal detectorists achieved in 15 days, despite the heavy January rain.
'We turned a ploughed field, the swords, and geophysical anomalies into the story of a settlement spanning hundreds of years – the first stage in telling the history of these fields and their cavalry swords.'
Probable Roman pottery excavated by Historic England staff (Cotswold Archaeology/PA)
Emma Stuart, director of the Corinium Museum, added: 'It's a privilege to acquire such rare artefacts.
'This valuable addition of Roman weaponry at the museum broadens the story of life in the Cotswolds during the mid to late Roman period.
'Wiltshire Conservation has identified the scabbard remnants and this adds another dimension to this discovery.'
The swords will be on display for public viewing at the Corinium Museum from August 2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK households told to keep windows and doors shut as bug invades nation
The UK is set to be hit by an influx of flying ants this month in a phenomenon which is good for nature but potentially annoying for households UK households are being urged to batten down the hatches as swarms of insects take to the skies. Named Flying Ant Day, it's a natural phenomenon where millions of winged ants emerge from their nests for a mating frenzy. But how should Britons brace themselves? In advice from The Guardian, experts advised: "Best to keep your doors, windows and mouth shut during the peak." While it may seem counterintuitive to just put up with the influx, the experts emphasised that the flying ants are "an important food source" for birds, while their tunnelling habits also help improve soil quality. They further explained that the swarm is actually part of the ants' reproductive strategy. According to the experts, the swarming improves their chances of survival by overwhelming predators. Best Ants UK has forecasted that "Flying Ant Day in 2025 is predicted to occur earlier than usual, with peak activity anticipated around 22 and 25 of July," reports Birmingham Live. To avoid an insect invasion, residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed. For those seeking a breath of fresh air without the company of ants, installing a fly screen can offer a solution, allowing breezes in but keeping pests out. Additionally, using a potent detergent to wipe out pheromone trails left by scout ants can prevent others from following the path to potential food sources within your home. Paul Blackhurst, Technical Academy Head at Rentokil Pest Control's Technical Academy, has sounded the alarm about potential bumper swarms of flying ants set to invade British skies as the notorious Flying Ant Day draws near. He highlighted the natural spectacle where myriads of winged ants emerge for a mating frenzy, saying: "Experts warn that this year could see larger-than-usual swarms of flying ants as we approach Flying Ant Day." Blackhurst added: "This natural event, when vast numbers of winged ants, known as alates, take to the skies at once in search of mates from other colonies, could be one of the most prolific for years." The pest control expert outlined how current climatic conditions foster perfect swarm settings, given the alternating wet and warm weather we have been experiencing recently. He explained that this because humidity is key in keeping the ants' wings and bodies moist while flying and "mating on the wing." He warns of the sheer scale of these insect throngs: "Ideal weather conditions can trigger the appearance of tens of millions of them taking to the skies in massive swarms over several weeks across Britain."
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
King Charles hails London's ‘spirit of unity' on 20th anniversary of 7/7 terror attacks
Survivors of the attack and rescuers remembered the horror of the bombings 'SELFLESS BRAVERY' King Charles hails London's 'spirit of unity' on 20th anniversary of 7/7 terror attacks KING Charles hailed London's 'spirit of unity' on the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 terror attacks on the city. Four suicide bombers attacked commuters, killing 52 people and injuring 784. Advertisement 4 Four suicide bombers attacked commuters in the 7/7 terror attacks on London, killing 52 people and injuring 784 4 King Charles hailed London's 'spirit of unity' on the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 terror attacks Credit: AFP Charles called the attacks on tube trains and a bus 'senseless acts of evil'. Watch our dramatic film about the horrific 7/7 attack including stories from our own journalists & survivors But he celebrated 'the selfless bravery' of rescue heroes. He called for Brits to use the 20th anniversary to 'reaffirm our commitment' to 'always standing firm against those who would seek to divide us'. Advertisement Survivors of the attack and rescuers remembered the horror of the bombings. Dan Biddle, 46, lost both legs and his left eye in the Tube blast near Edgware Road station. He was just yards from bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan. Dan told The Sun: 'He looked up at me, quickly lowered his eyes, put his right hand through the zip in the top of his bag and exploded himself.' Advertisement Met Superintendent Anna Bearman, then 23 and a PC, spoke of the 'pinch in the stomach moment' when she realised what they thought was a fire at King's Cross was 'something more sinister'. 'We walked about a mile on the tracks and then we carried one person out who had lost a lower limb, as there were no stretchers, and we took them out a mile back to Russell Square,' she said. 'Later on, I saw that my trousers and my legs were absolutely blood-stained, and that was when the shock of the whole day set in.' 7/7 survivor Dan Biddle and his rescuer Adrian interview 4 Met Superintendent Anna Bearman, then 23 and a PC Credit: PA Advertisement
Sunday Post
11 hours ago
- Sunday Post
The Scottish monk who helped in the fight against Napoleon
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up He was described as a 'short, stout, merry little monk' who was always jesting and poking fun, but James Robertson was truly extraordinary. In 1808, as Napoleon neared the peak of his power, it was this middle-aged and overweight Scottish monk to whom the British government turned for a special mission. The unlikely secret agent's task? Travel to Germany to persuade a Spanish general and his troops to betray the French emperor and switch sides. It may sound like something straight out of a war novel, but this is a true story that author Roger Hunt stumbled on and has been enthralled by for nearly 30 years. Robertson was born in 1758 but spent much of his life at a monastery in Regensberg, Germany, at the time known as Ratisbon. © Supplied While reading a biography of the Duke of Wellington, Roger found references to a meeting between the monk and a pre-dukedom Arthur Wellesley in London in the spring of 1808. Robertson was, at that point, a tutor to an aristocratic family in England, and noted that he was willing to aid the British government's struggles against Napoleon. 'I was thinking, what on Earth is a Scottish Benedictine monk whose parents were almost certainly Jacobites doing going on a spying mission for the British Government?' Roger said. 'It was completely bizarre. 'I started digging and in the British Library is a copy of Robertson's memoir, written by his nephew, about his mission to extricate the Spanish Division, commanded by Pedro Caro, Marquis of La Romana. 'When I retired, I started really properly having a look and also made contact with the Robertson clan, who had some records as well. It was an extraordinary story that turned out to be true.' Roger's aim was to put together a history book but, realising that details were scant, he decided to write a work of fiction based on the monk's extraordinary life and sticking closely to actual reported events. He was so fascinated by the story that, as well as hours in libraries and archives, he and his wife travelled to Europe and retraced Robertson's steps through northern Germany into Denmark and visited some of the sites of the action. © Supplied The result is Vindicta, which introduces French spy-hunter Jacques Marquet as a nemesis to Robertson. A game of cat and mouse unfolds in the book as Robertson tries to find and persuade the Spanish general to defect, while all the time avoiding capture by Marquet, a real-life figure whose portrait hangs in the National Gallery in London. 'Robertson is described as very intelligent,' Roger said. 'He had a superb education at the Scottish Seminary, first in Douai in northern France and then in Dinant in Belgium, until that was closed down by the French. 'He was fluent in German, French, Latin, Greek. He took his religious vows, where he was called Gallus after a Scottish Irish saint, and used that as his religious name. 'Wellesley at that stage was secretary to the Viceroy of Ireland, the Duke of Richmond, who while touring round Europe had stayed in the Scottish monastery in Ratisbon. He probably introduced Robertson to Wellesley, and hence set up the meeting with George Canning, the foreign secretary, who then employed Robertson on the mission. It's amazing all the different connections.' While Robertson may have been a surprise choice for such a daring mission, he had previous. Indeed, he had already met Napoleon, having been sent on a visit to the then consul to try to save the monastery in Ratisbon. 'Napoleon had closed a whole load of others, but Robertson was successful in persuading him not to order the closure of this monastery,' Roger said. 'Obviously, as well as being a 'merry little monk', he was incredibly persuasive and brave. Maybe that's why Wellesley and then Canning accepted that this man was going to be able to persuade La Romana to change sides. And so he did. 'He was extraordinarily courageous. I think his motivation was that he wanted revenge on Napoleon for what he'd done to the Catholic Church in Europe, as well as to help the British who were on the back foot in the wars.' Just being able to meet the Spanish in the first place had involved a few Mission Impossible-style tricks. Robertson arrived in Germany only to discover that the troops had moved on to Denmark, where they were part of the forces set to take part in an invasion of Sweden. He needed a cover story to make it across the border and earn an audience with La Romana. 'He took the name Adam Rorauer, a Bavarian he knew in London and disguised himself as a chocolate and cigar salesman, which is absolutely brilliant,' Roger said. 'The Spaniards were running out of supplies. That was the way he wangled his way to see La Romana.' © Supplied The fact that Napoleon had overthrown King Charles IV and Prince Ferdinand and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne helped convince La Romana's division to discard their loyalty to Imperial France. Robertson's work paved the way for a crucial military operation in which most of the troops were successfully evacuated from Denmark by the British navy and shipped to Spain to fight against France in the Peninsular War. Roger was assisted in piecing together the story by descendants in the clan Robertson, who provided him with some of their records. The monk's will is held in Downside Abbey in Somerset. 'I went there as well to have a look,' Roger said. 'It doesn't say a lot, but again it was helpful in proving that a) he existed and b) what I'd read was reasonably true, hence the determination that the novel would be based as close as I could on true events.' With so many extra pieces of information jumping out to Roger throughout his research, the job isn't yet complete and he hopes to write a prequel to Vindicta telling of Robertson's early life. 'I enjoyed the writing process,' he said. 'I discovered that Robertson actually taught German to Lord Palmerston, later the British Prime Minister. 'The research never finishes. You think you've learned all you can, and that's not the case at all. 'Before he was sent on this mission, Robertson was in Ireland teaching French at Maynooth University, so that will form some idea as to a prequel. 'He's an absolutely amazing character and the story is quite extraordinary. A very, very brave Scotsman.' Vindicta by Roger Hunt is available now from Troubador Publishing
